It will now cost more for property owners if the City of Wabash is required to mow their lawns.

The Wabash City Council on Monday, Aug. 10, unanimously approved on second reading of an ordinance increasing fees from $15 to $50 per hour, with a minimum fee of $50. Because this was second reading, the ordinance is now in effect.

However, the change did not come without opposition from one member of the public.

MSD of Wabash County School Board does “want to discuss” consolidation however it is still unclear when, according to Dr. Sandra Weaver, the school corporation’s superintendent.

Weaver commented on the topic after the MSD of Wabash County School Board meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, a week after the topic was broached at the Wabash City School Board meeting on Aug. 3. by WCS board member Bill Konyha.

The Wabash County American Red Cross has not renewed its lease for its Wabash office, according to Katherine MacAulay, executive director of the Northeast Indiana American Red Cross.

Previously, volunteers headed the local Red Cross chapter’s services, with guidance from staff located out of the county, and worked out of their homes. The office space, located at 88 W. Hill St. in Wabash, was “unutilized for a period of time,” MacAulay said.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is currently investigating several possible E. coli cases in Wabash and Fulton counties.

With the assistance of the Wabash County Health Department, the ISDH is investigating possible cases of E. Coli 0157: H7, a strain of the bacterium that “can cause harmful and spreadable illness in humans,” according to ISDH Media Relations Coordinator Ken Severson and the ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center.

Severson released the following statement in an email Thursday morning to The Paper of Wabash County:

“So far, two individuals have tested positive for E. Coli 0157: H7. Two patients have been hospitalized. Currently, one is hospitalized.

“The ISDH is investigating reports of patient death, but at this time has no conclusive evidence linking it to any other cases. We are investigating to determine if there are any links to other cases and any potential sources of exposure.”

Wabash school board suggests consolidation talks; Public reaction mixed to talk of consolidation

By Joseph Slacian

The Wabash City School Board broached the topic of consolidation, long a hot button around Wabash County, on Monday, Aug. 3.

Board member Bill Konyha brought the matter up during a portion of the board meeting designed for comments from the board. Rather than calling for consolidation, Konyha suggested that it was time for Wabash City Schools and MSD of Wabash County to discuss “unification.”

“We have tried for more than three years to consistently seek ways to incrementally unify our two school systems,” Konyha said in an interview with The Paper of Wabash County.

Public's reaction:

By Joseph Slacian

The public’s reaction to proposed unification talks between Wabash City Schools and MSD of Wabash County officials have been split.

Those in favor of it cited economic savings and the chance to offer more classes to students as reasons to proceed with talks. However, those against it believe the schools and classes will become to big and their youngsters will become, in many people’s words, “just a number.”

Two people have been arrested in connection with operating a meth lab in the City of Wabash.

Sgt. Matt Benson, the Wabash Police Department’s Public Information Officer, announced Sunday that the pair, Bradley Gressley, 25, and Samantha King, 34, were arrested following an incident on Monday, Aug. 3.

According to the news release:

Wabash Police allege they located Gressley and King manufacturing meth at 11:11 p.m. Aug. 3.